James Day | Illinois State University (original) (raw)

Papers by James Day

JP, 1990

The Upper Devonian (Frasnian) conodont fauna of the Lime Creek Formation of north-central Iowa is... more The Upper Devonian (Frasnian) conodont fauna of the Lime Creek Formation of north-central Iowa is dominated by species of Polygnathus. Patterns of species composition and abundance are consistent with the Polygnathus biofacies described from the Frasnian of the Northwest Territories of western Canada. Consequently, the standard Frasnian conodont zones, denned on sequences developed in the Palmatolepis biofacies, are not applicable to the Lime Creek sequence. The Lime Creek conodont sequence correlates with Zones 4, 5 and Faunal Interval 7 of the Frasnian conodont sequence in the Alberta Rockies and with similar sequences in the southwestern United States. The Pb elements of Palmatolepis semichatovae Ovnatanova and Ancyrognathus*! deformis (Anderson) are described and illustrated for the first time. In the Lime Creek Formation of north-central Iowa, brachiopods of the lowermost part of the Nervostrophia thomasi Zone of Day (1989a) occur in Zone 4, brachiopods of most of the N. thomasi, Douvillina arcuata, and Cyrtospirifer whitneyi Zones span conodont Zone 5, and the Elita inconsueta and Iowatrypa owenensis Zones occur in Faunal Interval 7. Species of the ammonoid Manticoceras and of the gastropods Floyda, Turbonopsis, and Westerna are restricted to Faunal Interval 7. Species of the calcareous foraminifer Nanicella first occur in Zone 5, and are joined by species of Multiseptida high in Zone 5.

Study of abundant well-preserved specimens of cyrtospiriferid brachiopods from early Famennian tr... more Study of abundant well-preserved specimens of cyrtospiriferid brachiopods from early Famennian triangularis Zone shelf
deposits from South China shows that none of them can be attributed to the genera Cyrtospirifer Nalivkin in Fredericks, 1924, or
Tenticospirifer Tien, 1938, as previously assigned. Some of these forms are reassigned to the new genus Plicapustula, with Spirifer
(Sinospirifer) gortanioides Grabau, 1931 serving as the type species. Restudy of the Upper Devonian cyrtospiriferids of North America
and South China indicates that genera of the subfamily Cyrtospiriferinae all developed a delthyrial covering usually composed of two
or more thin plates referred to as a composite pseudodeltidium. The delthyrial covering of Cyrtiopsis Grabau, 1923 and other genera
of the subfamily Cyrtiopsinae is a convex pseudodeltidium. The lack of a pedicle foramen penetrating the pseudodeltidia of Frasnian
Cyrtospirifer indicates that most species had an atrophied pedicle. The pseudodeltidia of most early Famennian cyrtospiriferids are
perforated by a pedicle tube or a central hypothyrid foramen as in Sinospirifer Grabau, 1931, or a hypothyrid-to-submesothyrid foramen
as in Lamarckispirifer Gatinaud, 1949 and Plicapustula n. gen. The orientation and concavity of the interarea, used with other shell
characteristics, are useful characters in species-level taxonomy of Famennian cyrtospiriferids.
Four major types of radial micro-ornament characterize Late Devonian species of Cyrtospirifer and other genera of the Cyrtospiriferinae.
These are 1) the verneuili type, consisting of microspines arising from the shell surface with spine bases extending into the
primary shell layer, with radial capillae; 2) the whitneyi-subextensus type with small pustules both in the grooves and on the plications;
3) the subarchiaci type characterized by pustules only on plications; and 4) the hayasakai type with coarse elongated pustules on
plications and capillae in grooves. There is a notable increase in complexity of the medial plication patterns of shells of Late Devonian
cyrtospiriferinids. Simple sinal plication patterns characterize shells of Frasnian species of Cyrtospirifer and related genera, whereas
most early Famennian cyrtospiriferinids developed complex patterns. We have documented three variations in the structure of the
cardinal processes of the Late Devonian cyrtospiriferids. These consist of 1) unsupported; 2) supported by callus (secondary shell
material) from below; or 3) supported by a median septum.
In Hunan-South China, cyrtospiriferid diversity was low in the late Frasnian, but a postextinction radiation of cyrtospiriferids in the
very early Famennian resulted in the evolution of numerous new genera within the interval of the undifferentiated triangularis Zone
shortly after the Frasnian–Famennian (F–F) mass extinction. Cyrtospiriferid brachiopods of the subfamilies Cyrtospiriferinae and Cyrtiopsinae
are important elements of the early Famennian post-extinction survivor and recovery faunas that migrated and radiated rapidly
to occupy niches vacated by extinct clades of late Frasnian brachiopods.

The name Thornton Creek Member (Flume Formation) is proposed for the mixed clastic-carbonate stra... more The name Thornton Creek Member (Flume Formation) is proposed for the mixed clastic-carbonate stratigraphic package that
onlaps Cambrian rocks and is overlain by typical carbonate ramp deposits of the upper Flume Formation beneath the isolated
Ancient Wall reef platform in the Alberta Rocky Mountains of western Alberta, Canada. At Ancient Wall, the Thornton Creek
Member is nearly 10 meters thick, records a single Transgressive-Regressive (T-R) cycle, and consists of three coarsening upward
parasequences. Bioturbated clastic mudstones in parasequence 1 contain a restricted monospecific inner-shelf brachiopod fauna
(Athyris sp.). Middle shelf sediments of parasequence 2 signify deposition during maximum flooding. The lower part of parasequence
2 yields a low-diversity Athyris-dominated assemblage. The middle part of parasequence 2 yields the conodont Icriodus
subterminus, associated with a diverse brachiopod fauna consisting of abundant shells of Eleutherokomma, Schizophoria (S.),
and Athyris, with less common Cyrtina, Desquamatia (Independatrypa), Pseudoatrypa, Cranaena, Strophodonta, and ichnofossils
suggestive of the Cruziana ichnofacies. Low-angle cross-stratified dolomitic sandstones capping parasequence 3 indicate shallow
inner-shelf conditions and maximum shoaling. Faunal data indicate that deposition of this unit coincided with part of the Slave
Point and lower Waterways formations elsewhere in central and northern Alberta, respectively, and Devonian T-R cycle IIa-2 of
Day et al. (1996). Proposed new species of brachiopods from the Thornton Creek Member at Ancient Wall include Eleutherokomma
wendtei n.sp. and Schizophoria (S.) stelcki n.sp.

[

The brachiopod fauna of the Middle-Late Devonian cratonic carbonate platform deposits of the Iowa... more The brachiopod fauna of the Middle-Late Devonian cratonic carbonate platform deposits
of the Iowa Basin, central North America, contains twenty species of the order Atrypida,
some of which are types for widespread genera common in Middle and Late Devonian
faunas. The latest Givetian-early Frasnian deposits yield a diverse fauna consisting of ten
species (two new) included in Desquamatia (Independatrypa), D. (Seratrypa), Pseudoatrypa,
Radiatrypa, Spinatrypa (Spinatrypa) and Spinatrypina (Exatrypa). Many of these
forms occur in, or are closely similar to species known from, coeval faunas of central
and western Canada. Middle Frasnian deposits of northern Iowa contain two species
included in Spinatrypa (S.) and Pseudoatrypa, both of which are new. Late Frasnian strata
of the Iowa Basin yield eight species included in Costatrypa, Iowatrypa, Pseudoatrypa,
and Spinatrypa (Spinatrypa), some of which are widespread in other subtropical and
tropical faunas of the western US and western Canada. The taxa Pseudoatrypa witzkei
sp. n., Spinatrypa (S.) bunkeri sp. n., ~ ~ i n a t r (yS.~) tah ompsoni sp. n., and Spinatrypina
(Exatrypa) johnsoni sp. n. are proposed. Pseudoatrypa? sp. from the very late Frasnian
of southern New Mexico is also illustrated.

The cyrtospiriferid brachiopod genus Tenticospirifer Tien, 1938, is revised based on restudy of t... more The cyrtospiriferid brachiopod genus Tenticospirifer Tien, 1938, is revised based on restudy of the type species from the
Frasnian (Late Devonian) of the Russian Platform. As revised the genus includes cyrtospiriferid species with pyramidal ventral valves,
catacline ventral interareas, a narrow delthyrium, few sinal plications, and lack a median dorsal septum and pseudodeltidium. All species
retained in the genus are of Givetian and Frasnian age. All Famennian age species described from South China and North America are
rejected from the genus. It appears that Tenticospirifer evolved during the early Givetian in western Europe and remained endemic to
that region during the remainder of the Givetian. Successive migrations of Tenticospirifer from eastern Laurussia to North America,
then to South China and possibly Australia, coincided with middle and late Frasnian eustatic sea level rises, respectively. The North
American species Spirifera cyrtinaformis Hall and Whitfield, 1872, and related species identified as Tenticospirifer by North American
workers, are reassigned to Conispirifer Lyashenko, 1985. Its immigration to and widespread dispersal in carbonate platforms of western
Laurussia, northern Gondwana and tropical island arcs (?) coincided with a major late Frasnian eustatic sea level rise. The new family
Conispiriferidae is proposed with Conispirifer Lyashenko, 1985, selected as the type genus. The new family also includes the new
genus Pyramidaspirifer with Platyrachella alta Fenton and Fenton, 1924, proposed as the type species. The affinity of the new family
remains uncertain pending restudy of key genera currently included in the Superfamily Cyrtospiriferoidea. Available data from the
Devonian brachiopod literature indicate that species of Pyramidaspirifer are restricted to late Frasnian deposits of central and western
North America.

JP, 1990

The Upper Devonian (Frasnian) conodont fauna of the Lime Creek Formation of north-central Iowa is... more The Upper Devonian (Frasnian) conodont fauna of the Lime Creek Formation of north-central Iowa is dominated by species of Polygnathus. Patterns of species composition and abundance are consistent with the Polygnathus biofacies described from the Frasnian of the Northwest Territories of western Canada. Consequently, the standard Frasnian conodont zones, denned on sequences developed in the Palmatolepis biofacies, are not applicable to the Lime Creek sequence. The Lime Creek conodont sequence correlates with Zones 4, 5 and Faunal Interval 7 of the Frasnian conodont sequence in the Alberta Rockies and with similar sequences in the southwestern United States. The Pb elements of Palmatolepis semichatovae Ovnatanova and Ancyrognathus*! deformis (Anderson) are described and illustrated for the first time. In the Lime Creek Formation of north-central Iowa, brachiopods of the lowermost part of the Nervostrophia thomasi Zone of Day (1989a) occur in Zone 4, brachiopods of most of the N. thomasi, Douvillina arcuata, and Cyrtospirifer whitneyi Zones span conodont Zone 5, and the Elita inconsueta and Iowatrypa owenensis Zones occur in Faunal Interval 7. Species of the ammonoid Manticoceras and of the gastropods Floyda, Turbonopsis, and Westerna are restricted to Faunal Interval 7. Species of the calcareous foraminifer Nanicella first occur in Zone 5, and are joined by species of Multiseptida high in Zone 5.

Study of abundant well-preserved specimens of cyrtospiriferid brachiopods from early Famennian tr... more Study of abundant well-preserved specimens of cyrtospiriferid brachiopods from early Famennian triangularis Zone shelf
deposits from South China shows that none of them can be attributed to the genera Cyrtospirifer Nalivkin in Fredericks, 1924, or
Tenticospirifer Tien, 1938, as previously assigned. Some of these forms are reassigned to the new genus Plicapustula, with Spirifer
(Sinospirifer) gortanioides Grabau, 1931 serving as the type species. Restudy of the Upper Devonian cyrtospiriferids of North America
and South China indicates that genera of the subfamily Cyrtospiriferinae all developed a delthyrial covering usually composed of two
or more thin plates referred to as a composite pseudodeltidium. The delthyrial covering of Cyrtiopsis Grabau, 1923 and other genera
of the subfamily Cyrtiopsinae is a convex pseudodeltidium. The lack of a pedicle foramen penetrating the pseudodeltidia of Frasnian
Cyrtospirifer indicates that most species had an atrophied pedicle. The pseudodeltidia of most early Famennian cyrtospiriferids are
perforated by a pedicle tube or a central hypothyrid foramen as in Sinospirifer Grabau, 1931, or a hypothyrid-to-submesothyrid foramen
as in Lamarckispirifer Gatinaud, 1949 and Plicapustula n. gen. The orientation and concavity of the interarea, used with other shell
characteristics, are useful characters in species-level taxonomy of Famennian cyrtospiriferids.
Four major types of radial micro-ornament characterize Late Devonian species of Cyrtospirifer and other genera of the Cyrtospiriferinae.
These are 1) the verneuili type, consisting of microspines arising from the shell surface with spine bases extending into the
primary shell layer, with radial capillae; 2) the whitneyi-subextensus type with small pustules both in the grooves and on the plications;
3) the subarchiaci type characterized by pustules only on plications; and 4) the hayasakai type with coarse elongated pustules on
plications and capillae in grooves. There is a notable increase in complexity of the medial plication patterns of shells of Late Devonian
cyrtospiriferinids. Simple sinal plication patterns characterize shells of Frasnian species of Cyrtospirifer and related genera, whereas
most early Famennian cyrtospiriferinids developed complex patterns. We have documented three variations in the structure of the
cardinal processes of the Late Devonian cyrtospiriferids. These consist of 1) unsupported; 2) supported by callus (secondary shell
material) from below; or 3) supported by a median septum.
In Hunan-South China, cyrtospiriferid diversity was low in the late Frasnian, but a postextinction radiation of cyrtospiriferids in the
very early Famennian resulted in the evolution of numerous new genera within the interval of the undifferentiated triangularis Zone
shortly after the Frasnian–Famennian (F–F) mass extinction. Cyrtospiriferid brachiopods of the subfamilies Cyrtospiriferinae and Cyrtiopsinae
are important elements of the early Famennian post-extinction survivor and recovery faunas that migrated and radiated rapidly
to occupy niches vacated by extinct clades of late Frasnian brachiopods.

The name Thornton Creek Member (Flume Formation) is proposed for the mixed clastic-carbonate stra... more The name Thornton Creek Member (Flume Formation) is proposed for the mixed clastic-carbonate stratigraphic package that
onlaps Cambrian rocks and is overlain by typical carbonate ramp deposits of the upper Flume Formation beneath the isolated
Ancient Wall reef platform in the Alberta Rocky Mountains of western Alberta, Canada. At Ancient Wall, the Thornton Creek
Member is nearly 10 meters thick, records a single Transgressive-Regressive (T-R) cycle, and consists of three coarsening upward
parasequences. Bioturbated clastic mudstones in parasequence 1 contain a restricted monospecific inner-shelf brachiopod fauna
(Athyris sp.). Middle shelf sediments of parasequence 2 signify deposition during maximum flooding. The lower part of parasequence
2 yields a low-diversity Athyris-dominated assemblage. The middle part of parasequence 2 yields the conodont Icriodus
subterminus, associated with a diverse brachiopod fauna consisting of abundant shells of Eleutherokomma, Schizophoria (S.),
and Athyris, with less common Cyrtina, Desquamatia (Independatrypa), Pseudoatrypa, Cranaena, Strophodonta, and ichnofossils
suggestive of the Cruziana ichnofacies. Low-angle cross-stratified dolomitic sandstones capping parasequence 3 indicate shallow
inner-shelf conditions and maximum shoaling. Faunal data indicate that deposition of this unit coincided with part of the Slave
Point and lower Waterways formations elsewhere in central and northern Alberta, respectively, and Devonian T-R cycle IIa-2 of
Day et al. (1996). Proposed new species of brachiopods from the Thornton Creek Member at Ancient Wall include Eleutherokomma
wendtei n.sp. and Schizophoria (S.) stelcki n.sp.

[

The brachiopod fauna of the Middle-Late Devonian cratonic carbonate platform deposits of the Iowa... more The brachiopod fauna of the Middle-Late Devonian cratonic carbonate platform deposits
of the Iowa Basin, central North America, contains twenty species of the order Atrypida,
some of which are types for widespread genera common in Middle and Late Devonian
faunas. The latest Givetian-early Frasnian deposits yield a diverse fauna consisting of ten
species (two new) included in Desquamatia (Independatrypa), D. (Seratrypa), Pseudoatrypa,
Radiatrypa, Spinatrypa (Spinatrypa) and Spinatrypina (Exatrypa). Many of these
forms occur in, or are closely similar to species known from, coeval faunas of central
and western Canada. Middle Frasnian deposits of northern Iowa contain two species
included in Spinatrypa (S.) and Pseudoatrypa, both of which are new. Late Frasnian strata
of the Iowa Basin yield eight species included in Costatrypa, Iowatrypa, Pseudoatrypa,
and Spinatrypa (Spinatrypa), some of which are widespread in other subtropical and
tropical faunas of the western US and western Canada. The taxa Pseudoatrypa witzkei
sp. n., Spinatrypa (S.) bunkeri sp. n., ~ ~ i n a t r (yS.~) tah ompsoni sp. n., and Spinatrypina
(Exatrypa) johnsoni sp. n. are proposed. Pseudoatrypa? sp. from the very late Frasnian
of southern New Mexico is also illustrated.

The cyrtospiriferid brachiopod genus Tenticospirifer Tien, 1938, is revised based on restudy of t... more The cyrtospiriferid brachiopod genus Tenticospirifer Tien, 1938, is revised based on restudy of the type species from the
Frasnian (Late Devonian) of the Russian Platform. As revised the genus includes cyrtospiriferid species with pyramidal ventral valves,
catacline ventral interareas, a narrow delthyrium, few sinal plications, and lack a median dorsal septum and pseudodeltidium. All species
retained in the genus are of Givetian and Frasnian age. All Famennian age species described from South China and North America are
rejected from the genus. It appears that Tenticospirifer evolved during the early Givetian in western Europe and remained endemic to
that region during the remainder of the Givetian. Successive migrations of Tenticospirifer from eastern Laurussia to North America,
then to South China and possibly Australia, coincided with middle and late Frasnian eustatic sea level rises, respectively. The North
American species Spirifera cyrtinaformis Hall and Whitfield, 1872, and related species identified as Tenticospirifer by North American
workers, are reassigned to Conispirifer Lyashenko, 1985. Its immigration to and widespread dispersal in carbonate platforms of western
Laurussia, northern Gondwana and tropical island arcs (?) coincided with a major late Frasnian eustatic sea level rise. The new family
Conispiriferidae is proposed with Conispirifer Lyashenko, 1985, selected as the type genus. The new family also includes the new
genus Pyramidaspirifer with Platyrachella alta Fenton and Fenton, 1924, proposed as the type species. The affinity of the new family
remains uncertain pending restudy of key genera currently included in the Superfamily Cyrtospiriferoidea. Available data from the
Devonian brachiopod literature indicate that species of Pyramidaspirifer are restricted to late Frasnian deposits of central and western
North America.